It is with great sadness that we were informed this morning of the death of Councillor John West. As a Conservative County Councillor John always made a positive contribution to debates. He was frank  in his views and ready to go into battle on matters he believed in or on behalf of others who needed his help. He was always ready with advice when it was needed. John will be missed.

I would like to pass on my sincere condolences to his wife and family.

The Wisbech Standard has this to say:

Mr West, 66, a town, district and county councillor had been feeling unwell after a severe bout of flu but had managed to attend a meeting of March Town Council on Monday evening.

Carol, his wife of 41 years, said he had spent most of yesterday sleeping and she thought he was unwell and tired.

Mr West was born and brought up in March and had represented March North on Fenland District and March Town Council for 10 years and had been a county councillor since 2005. He was mayor in 2009-10.

Mrs West said: “He was terribly hard working as a councillor and was so well-known in the town. He loved getting results for people when they came to him with a problem.”

Clive Lemmon, clerk to March Town Council, said: “He was a larger than life character and will be sadly missed.

“He was the kind of person that if there was a job to do he would always be one of the first to volunteer.”